Fire-escape



1 (No Model.)

HI WETTSTEIN. 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

l FIREv ESCAPE. No. 812,884. Patented Peb. 84, 1885.

.five/nfor- Z flie- NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

AHERMAN VVETTSTEIN, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming partrof Letters Patent No. 312,684, dated February 24:, 1885.

Application filed June 25, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN WETTsTEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Har-A vard, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of firefescapes which are used to rescue persons who are compelled in escaping toj ump from the upper stories of a building.

The object of my invention is to provide a strong, light, yielding, portable device, which may be folded into small compass and be easily and quickly moved, and which is easily and quickly thrown into shape for service when required at the place to be used.

My invention is further explained by refer ence to the accompanying drawings, in which.-

Figure I represents an end view. Fig. 2 is a side View; Fig. 3 is a top view, and Figs. 4 and 5 are details.

Like parts are referred to by the same reference-letters throughout the several views.

In the construction of my `escape a heavy canvas or net-work, A, is secured to a folding frame similar' 'in constructionto the camp chair o'r bedstcad, in such a mannerthat when the frames are separated and supported upon their legs or cross-bars the canvas or network is suspended from its edges and retained taut in nearly a horizontal position'.

The supporting-frame consists of the several pairs of cross-bars B B, which are secured to cach other by pivotal rod C, which rod permits said cross-pieces to be turned toward or in line with each other when folded together, or at an angle to each other when opened for use, as shown in Figs. l and 3. The several pairs of cross-bars B are connected together at their upper ends by strong rods D, which pass through holes provided therefor in the upper ends of said cross-bars, as shown at E. To these rods the canvas or net-work is secured by cords or straps F. When the crossbars are separated or unfolded, as shown in standards J J and K K.

the standards J J are permanently attached to l Figs. 1 and 3, they are rigidly retained in such position and the canvas or net-Work A kept taut by the end braces, G G, as shown in said Fig. l. One end of the braces G is permanently secured to one of the cross-pieces B by a screw or bolt, H, as shown in Fig. l, while the other end is detachably attached,when the escape is opened,by the screw or bolt I. The braces G, for ordinary purposes, are required at the ends of escape only, but may, in case the escape is large, be attached to some or all of the central cross-bars. rIhe end of the brace G which is temporarily attached is provided with a notch, a, for the reception of the screw I.

To prevent the escape from tipping over, and to make the same stand more firmly, it is supported at its sides or corners by the folding The upper cnds'of the side rod, D, of the esca-pe, which when in use are toward the building, the rod D being passed through holes provided therefor in the upper ends of said standards, the lower ends of said standards being of such length as to bring them on a level of the lower ends of Vthe cross-pieces B.

l? is a brace or connecting rod by which the lower ends of the standardswJ are connected together.

To provide for uneven surfaces, or for sup# porting the escape with one edgeover thesidewalk and the other edge over a gutter, I have made the outer standards, K K, longer than the standards J J, and have provided a series of notches, L L, in their edges for the reception of the side rod, whereby the standards may be adjusted to conform to the surface upon which the escape rests, while the surface of the canvas or net-work is retained in a horizontal l position. As an equivalent for the notches L a series of holes, M M, may be substitute'd, as shown in standard K', and said standards secured to the crosspieces by a bolt, N, as shown in Fig. l, the two forms of adjusting-standards K K and the retaining-pin being shown in' Figs. 4 and 5.

When it is desired to fold the escape preparatory to removing it, the detachable ends of the braces G are detached from the screws I and folded alongside of the cross-piece to which they are attached,when the pieces B B are folded alongside of each other, and the` ICO standards J brought toward each oth er, so that the cross-pieces, braces, and standards are all brought in close contact, while the canvas or net-work is folded between said cross-pieces, and all is thus easily1 and quickly put into a compact form convenient to be moved, all the parts being so connected to each other that there is no danger of any of them becoming lost or displaced, but may all be quickly brought back into their proper shape in condition for use.

To one of each of theend cross-pieces B is attached a bracket, M', yby staples N, which, when said cross-pieces are folded together, are adapted to engage the other cross-piece, and thus prevent said pieces from separating and unfolding. The adjustable standards are preferably connected. to the side rod by a loose cord, to prevent them from becoming lost or displaced.

To lrender the frame more stable, the several cross-pieces are connected together by the angularly-arranged bracerods O O, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a fire-escape, the combination of two or more pairs of cross-pieces, B, connectingrod C, side rods, D D, connecting-rod P, canvas or net-work A, braces G, and standards J J and K K', as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of two or more pairs of cross-pieces, B B, connectingrod C, side rods, D D, braces G G, canvas or net-work A, retaining cords or straps F F, and brace-rods O O, as set forth.

3. Ina tire-escape, the combination of two or more pairs of cross-pieces, B B, pivotal rod C, side-rods, D D, canvas or net-work A, braces G G, permanently attached side standards J, connecting-rod I), and adjustable side standards K, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HERMAN XVETTSTEIN.

Vitn esses:

H. L. FREDERICK, P. WILKINSON. 

